She's watched him duck through her window, slip down her fire escape, and – eventually – walk out their front door so many times it should be routine by now.
"Be safe."
"Always."
"I love you."
"Forever."
The words were meant to be reassuring and make them both feel less destroyed by yet another goodbye. But that hadn't ever really been the case. They said them because the silence was unbearable. She couldn't let him leave without saying something, even if the words had been said dozens of times before.
More important than the words was what came before them. Jellal never kissed her so desperately as when he left her behind. Erza understood why she couldn't go with him – she had her own responsibilities the same as he did, but the longing of her heart didn't care about any of that.
She never wore armor in these moments. There were to be no hard barriers between them and it was bad enough that he had so many layers. His arm would slide around her waist and despite the sadness hanging in the air he'd smile. Erza thought Jellal's smile to be the most beautiful thing in the world as it was a rarity for anyone else but her.
"I don't want to go," he'd say. "But I have to."
"I know," she'd whisper.
Then his lips would descend upon hers and for a few brief seconds the world around them would stop spinning and simply hover. There were always a few softer, lingering kisses before he'd open the door and turn back to her with a grin. And she could never resist the words.
"Be safe."
"Always."
"I love you."
"Forever."
And then she would go about her day and pretend not to wait.